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American number one Amanda Sobhy, the 22-year-old who became the first native-born U.S. citizen to crack the world’s top ten last year, says she is relishing the prospect of competing at the 2016 Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and Equitrust Life Insurance Company for the first time in her career this week ahead of what promises to be a fascinating episode on the 2015-16 PSA World Series schedule.
The Harvard graduate has enjoyed a stellar start to 2016 so far and reached her first ever PSA World Series final at the J. P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in January, when the support of a partisan U.S. crowd carried her to a series of career-defining wins, and the prospect of competing in front of vocal home support in Chicago again this week is something she is excited about.
“Reaching the finals of the Tournament of Champions in January was a huge confidence booster for me because it made me realise that I have the ability to beat any player in the rankings, ” said Sobhy.
“I’m looking forward to carrying that momentum with me as I head into the Windy City Open this week – especially because this is the first time that I’ll be able to play in the tournament.
“It has always clashed with the collegiate national championships so I’m excited to be playing this year and hopefully I can have just as good a run over there as I did in New York City.
“The support in New York was amazing and it will be great to play in front of an American crowd again this week.”
Sobhy will take on Egyptian Salma Hany Ibrahim in the first round of the tournament, which takes place at the University Club of Chicago from February 25 – March 02, as she bids to become the first American player ever to win a prestigious PSA World Series title.
Women’s Windy City Open – First Round Draw:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) v Line Hansen (DEN)
Heba El Torky (EGY) v [16] Victoria Lust (ENG)
[15] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [Qualifier]
[WC] Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[5] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Tesni Evans (WAL) v [14] Delia Arnold (MAS)
[11] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [3] Nicol David (MAS)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) v [Qualifier]
Joey Chan (HKG) v [12] Low Wee Wern (MAS)
[10] Joelle King (NZL) v Donna Urquhart (AUS)
Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[Q] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) v [13] Jenny Duncalf (ENG)
[9] Annie Au (HKG) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Tickets for the 2016 Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners and EquiTrust Life Insurance Company starting at just $20 and can be purchased at www.windycityopen.com.
For more tournament updates and behind the scenes action follow Windy City Open on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and use the official tournament hashtag #WCOsquash
